Vape juice — also called e-liquid — is the liquid a vape device heats into an aerosol, or vapour. In Australia it is not sold like an ordinary consumer product. Since 1 July 2024, every vape and vaping liquid, whether it contains nicotine or not, is regulated as a therapeutic good and is supplied only through pharmacies to help adults quit smoking or manage nicotine dependence.
This guide walks through the three things most Australian readers search for: the types of vape juice, how nicotine strength is measured, and the legal way to buy it. It is a decision guide, not a product ranking — this site does not sell bottled e-liquid, so nothing here pushes a particular brand.
What vape juice is and how Australia regulates it
Vape juice has a small set of core ingredients: a base of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), a flavouring, and — optionally — nicotine. The ratio of PG to VG and the form of nicotine change how the liquid feels and how much vapour it produces, which is why “vape juice” covers a fairly wide range of products.
The regulatory picture is the part most generic guides get wrong. Under the reforms that took effect from 1 July 2024, all vapes and vaping products — with or without nicotine — can only be sold in a pharmacy, and only for the purpose of helping people quit smoking or manage nicotine dependence. Single-use disposable vapes cannot be purchased at all, including from a pharmacy. The strengthened product standards that began on 1 July 2025 mean pharmacies may only supply vapes that meet the TGA’s current safety and quality requirements.
In practice, that means “buying vape juice” in Australia is a pharmacy supply pathway, not a retail shopping trip. The rules for buying vape juice in Australia are covered in a separate article, but the essentials are below.
Types of vape juice: base ratio and nicotine form
Three distinctions explain most of the variety in vape juice. Each changes the throat feel, the vapour, or the nicotine delivery.
PG versus VG
Propylene glycol (PG) is thinner and carries flavour well, and it gives a more pronounced throat hit. Vegetable glycerin (VG) is thicker and produces denser vapour with a smoother feel. Most liquids blend the two. If you want the technical detail on how the ratio affects a device, our PG vs VG guide explains the trade-offs in full.
Nicotine salt versus freebase
Freebase nicotine is the traditional form and delivers a stronger throat hit, especially at higher strengths. Nicotine salts are smoother, which is why they are commonly used at higher strengths without the harshness. The choice is largely about comfort at your chosen strength — see the nicotine salts vs freebase comparison for the full picture.
Nicotine versus nicotine-free
A liquid can also simply contain no nicotine at all. A “0 mg” liquid is a nicotine-free option, though in Australia it is still regulated the same way as other vaping liquids and supplied through the pharmacy pathway. The nicotine-free vape juice guide explains what “0 mg” really means on a label.
Nicotine strengths in Australia
Nicotine strength is written as milligrams per millilitre (mg/mL) or, less commonly, as a percentage. A 3 mg/mL liquid is the same as 0.3%, and 0 mg/mL means no nicotine. Strengths run from zero upward; in the Australian therapeutic-vape pathway, the key figure to know is 20 mg/mL.
From 1 October 2024, a pharmacist can supply therapeutic vapes with a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/mL or less — including nicotine-free vapes — after a consultation, where state and territory law allows. A prescription is not required for this pathway. A nicotine concentration above 20 mg/mL is a higher-schedule medicine and needs a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Nicotine itself is addictive, so strength is not a point to optimise for comfort alone. If you are choosing or reducing a strength, our nicotine strength guide explains how to read labels and step down safely.
How to buy vape juice legally in Australia
The lawful channel is a participating pharmacy. Supply is limited to adults aged 18 and over, requires a conversation with the pharmacist, and is capped at about one month’s supply. Where state and territory law allows, the pharmacist can supply a vape with 20 mg/mL or less of nicotine after that consultation; above that strength, the pharmacist dispenses against a prescription.
Therapeutic vapes are not sold through general retail channels such as vape shops, supermarkets or convenience stores, and single-use disposables are not part of the lawful supply pathway. If you are unsure whether you need a prescription, the nicotine prescription guide sets out the prescribing routes, and the vape juice buying rules cover the in-pharmacy steps.
A buying checklist for Australian adults
Because the type, the strength and the supply channel are connected, a single table is often clearer than a long list. Use it as a starting point, then confirm the details with a pharmacist, since supply rules can differ between states and territories.
| Your situation | Type of vape juice | Typical strength | Lawful next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quitting smoking, unsure where to start | Any therapeutic vape liquid, as advised | As recommended by the pharmacist | Speak with a participating pharmacist |
| Already nicotine-dependent adult | Nicotine e-liquid (salt or freebase) | 20 mg/mL or less for the pharmacy pathway; above 20 mg/mL needs a prescription | Pharmacy consultation, or a prescription for higher strength |
| Prefer no nicotine | Nicotine-free (0 mg/mL) liquid | 0 mg/mL | Participating pharmacy, after a consultation |
The table is a map, not medical advice. The correct strength and whether nicotine is appropriate at all are matters to settle with a pharmacist or prescriber, not from a webpage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy vape juice online in Australia?
Not through a general online store. Therapeutic vapes are supplied through pharmacies, and the supply rules require a pharmacist consultation, so a casual online checkout is not part of the lawful pathway. The can you buy vape juice in Australia article covers what a legitimate supply looks like.
Is nicotine-free vape juice treated differently?
Only in one respect: a nicotine-free liquid contains no nicotine, so the strength question does not apply to it. It is still regulated as a vaping good and supplied through the same pharmacy pathway, and the 0 mg guide explains what the label does and does not tell you.
References
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care — About vaping and e-cigarettes
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — Supply and distribution for therapeutic vaping goods
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — Supplying therapeutic vapes in pharmacies
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — New standards for nicotine vaping products from July 2025
- Pharmaceutical Society of Australia — Navigating Vaping Reforms
- Vaping360 — Nicotine Strengths: How to Choose What’s Right for You
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